tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275929652024-03-17T14:11:36.929-04:00For God's GloryThroughout our lives we have been so blessed with friendships and ministry opportunities.
This blog is meant to share what God has been doing in, for and through us. It is also used as a resource page for teaching and preaching Dave has had the opportunity to do. We do this for the purpose of GLORIFYING GOD and HELPING OTHERS GLORIFY GOD.Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.comBlogger725125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-50135928321949053742024-03-17T07:00:00.007-04:002024-03-17T14:11:05.020-04:00Go Tell It<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9So4YqWl2lprHCxo-C2WXebmLmQHIefBdogRHfHrR1ENUdfwi_qUuFie1tzwCtDVJlxfP9t6ZvpZWT9X3cuVkmu6k4EJvsnXkvYqZ7A4SUugWnIBoXATG6MtjNrcUbyOsa0g63I8VJWFo6Y4hb8I4AdSz6SmojTOpBGHwhU_2jx5LuELg1lNug/s1280/Slide4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9So4YqWl2lprHCxo-C2WXebmLmQHIefBdogRHfHrR1ENUdfwi_qUuFie1tzwCtDVJlxfP9t6ZvpZWT9X3cuVkmu6k4EJvsnXkvYqZ7A4SUugWnIBoXATG6MtjNrcUbyOsa0g63I8VJWFo6Y4hb8I4AdSz6SmojTOpBGHwhU_2jx5LuELg1lNug/w459-h258/Slide4.JPG" width="459" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Gospel Presentations</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">7 Cs of History - <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/bible-history/the-seven-cs/" target="_blank">answersingenesis.org/bible-history/the-seven-cs/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">6 Life in 6 Words - <a href="https://li6w.com/gospel/" target="_blank">li6w.com/gospel/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">5 The Gospel Hand Presentation - <a href="https://evangelismexplosion.org/hand-presentation/" target="_blank">evangelismexplosion.org/hand-presentation/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">4 A Summary in 4 Words - God, Man, Christ, Response - <a href="https://www.9marks.org/answer/what-gospel/" target="_blank">www.9marks.org/answer/what-gospel/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">3 Three Circles - <a href="https://www.namb.net/evangelism/3circles/" target="_blank">www.namb.net/evangelism/3circles/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">2 Two Ways to Live - <a href="https://twowaystolive.com/" target="_blank">twowaystolive.com/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">NO MATTER WHAT PRESENTATION YOU USE,<br />REMEMBER, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW <br /><b>THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkhaDsD1PqIm6koQJGilNicpbQHnD6uA_-LadibGrYunAHC7qOcS-vibYLboTb6qEpt3DArrVxHdwhIAH6KO0j5UumavfVibcKJt7fveS_mQSyIhF5BVCmiBvNPUhi3AigZ-qjuiE69Oxyj0coHD-scvZJy8cOTfC53fO-Bm48s6XwReu1suWTA/s627/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="627" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkhaDsD1PqIm6koQJGilNicpbQHnD6uA_-LadibGrYunAHC7qOcS-vibYLboTb6qEpt3DArrVxHdwhIAH6KO0j5UumavfVibcKJt7fveS_mQSyIhF5BVCmiBvNPUhi3AigZ-qjuiE69Oxyj0coHD-scvZJy8cOTfC53fO-Bm48s6XwReu1suWTA/w360-h360/Picture1.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><b>Resources from class today:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Book: God is the Gospel - <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/books/god-is-the-gospel" target="_blank">www.desiringgod.org/books/god-is-the-gospel</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Question: Must every Christian evangelize? - <a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/must-every-christian-evangelize/" target="_blank">www.9marks.org/article/must-every-christian-evangelize/</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Question: What does equipping the church for evangelism look like? - <a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/how-to-equip-the-church-for-evangelism/" target="_blank">www.9marks.org/article/how-to-equip-the-church-for-evangelism/</a></span></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-1884652133037875932024-03-01T05:49:00.008-05:002024-03-06T17:50:32.933-05:00Prayer from the Church<p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">From the Prayer Workshop, I did on Friday night at the Church Ministries Conference.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">"Let
Us Pray” is more than the phrase to start something.<br />"Let Us Pray" is calling together God's creatures to commune with God, the Creator.<br />"Let Us Pray" with the church is a call of the children of God to speak with their heavenly Father.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Let us not forget what a great privilege and need it is for the church to pray to the Lord. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The Church Ministries Conference (<a href="http://grchurchministriesconference.com" target="_blank"><i>grchurchministriesconference.com</i></a>) is an excellent opportunity for churches and ministry leaders to come together to encourage and equip one another. I am very thankful to be part of the conference planning team. At the same time, I want to encourage attendees to remember that it is God who does the work. These last two years, I have done a Friday night workshop that serves as a reminder that it is God who does the work.<br />We need to be praying for Him to do what He will do in our churches. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">But what is prayer?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>According
to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, prayer is<br /></span><span>Offering
</span><u>up our
desires unto God</u><span> <br /></span><span>For </span><u>things agreeable to His will<br /></u><span>In </span><u>the name of Christ,<br /></u><span>With the </span><u>confession of our sins and
thankful acknowledgment of His mercies</u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">We need to remember that prayer is <u>a relationship activity.</u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbuHAIt2LhRw_94QueLQC_q7nQFJmDNkI6WcwOt9x8_eslaH9c8-hJcxY8MwEmSZjbz7GUBriXnKOgHGGWBmmxubVlSAtuMYHDsPKawhdn_zTkGqrqF-F02vmEOOyYjssf77kc3IW_ueswvrMyf64WeifioaiFb-_fw1F2A8jCmsI1vqRiEiWMw/s829/dacarson.prayer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="829" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbuHAIt2LhRw_94QueLQC_q7nQFJmDNkI6WcwOt9x8_eslaH9c8-hJcxY8MwEmSZjbz7GUBriXnKOgHGGWBmmxubVlSAtuMYHDsPKawhdn_zTkGqrqF-F02vmEOOyYjssf77kc3IW_ueswvrMyf64WeifioaiFb-_fw1F2A8jCmsI1vqRiEiWMw/s320/dacarson.prayer.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><br /></span></p>Throughout
redemptive history, praying together has marked the spiritual liveliness of
God’s gathered people. (</span><i style="font-family: Montserrat;">Praying Together </i><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">by Megan Hill)</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>The devoted in prayer commands of </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A12%3B+Colossians+4%3A2&version=NASB1995" target="_blank">Romans 12:12 and Colossians 4:2</a><span> were written to </span><u>churches.</u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The emphasis
in the scriptural record is clearly on corporate prayer being the context in
which personal prayer becomes meaningful (<i>Praying for One Another </i> by Gene Getz)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>Acts 1:14, 2:42, and 6:4 show that </span><u>the church has been devoted to prayer since its inception. </u><u><span>Notice the common word in each
verse? Devoted</span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><o:p> </o:p>In
Church History, you can see many calls to prayer, both personal and corporate. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">From J.C. Ryle's <i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Do you pray? </i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lists several reasons why we should pray.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Prayer is absolutely necessary to a
person’s salvation</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The habit of prayer is the surest
mark of a true Christian</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Private prayer is the most neglected
Christian discipline</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The Bible is full of encouragement
for all who want to pray</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Faithfulness in prayer is the secret
of true holiness</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Neglecting prayer is one of the
great causes of backsliding</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Prayer is the best recipe for
happiness and content</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">To Jim Elliott's journaled prayers like this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Father, make of me a </span><u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">crisis </u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">man. </span><span>Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a </span><u>milepost </u><span>on a single road; make me a fork that men must turn one way or</span><span> </span><span>another on facing Christ in me.”</span> </span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Consider this Syriac Christmas liturgy from the late third or early fourth century. I italicized part of this prayer because I love the idea of churches praying for other churches. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">The radiance of the Father’s splendor, the Father’s visible image, Jesus Christ our God, peerless among counselors, Prince of Peace, Father of the world to come, the model after which Adam was formed, for our sakes became like a slave: in the womb of Mary the virgin, without assistance from any man, he took flesh.</span></span> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">Enable us, Lord, to reach the end of this luminous feast in peace, forsaking all idle words, acting virtuously, shunning our passions, and raising ourselves above the things of this world.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;"><i>Bless your church, which you brought into being long ago and attached to yourself through your own life-giving blood. Help all orthodox pastors, heads of churches, and doctors [theologians].</i></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">Bless your servants, whose trust is all in you; bless all Christian souls, the sick, those tormented by evil spirits, and those who have asked us to pray for them.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">Show yourself as merciful as you are rich in grace; save and preserve us; enable us to obtain those good things to come which will never know an end.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">May we celebrate your glorious birth, and the Father who sent you to redeem us, and your Spirit, the Giver of life, now and forever, age after age. Amen.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"></span></em></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-79874481474584547502024-02-25T21:50:00.007-05:002024-02-25T22:18:29.166-05:00Developing a Culture <p><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Today, I taught a combined Adult Christian Education class at Trinity. </span><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The classes were "How We Got the Bible" and "Diagnosing Your Spiritual Health." I also invited those who had just finished the new members' class.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Poppins;">So, this is a recap of the lesson with additional thoughts italicized. I shared that one of the purposes of the class, and this post, is to help people better understand how we, as a church, use the Bible and live in community together. At this ministry transition time, this is especially important. </span><span style="font-family: Poppins;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The lesson's title was "How to Use the Bible to Cultivate a Disciple-Making,
Biblical Counseling, Caring Family Culture."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Hebrews 10:24, 25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit
of doing but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day
approaching" is not a passage that can be lived out from 9;45 to 12:15 one day a week. It is meant to be lived out in relationship throughout the week. Especially when you add verse 23 to the passage, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." This hope-holding, spurring one another on, not giving up, and encouraging one another life is relationship-based, not event-based. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The church is not an audience of spectators showing up to an event. It is a fellowship of disciple-makers committed to the Lord and one another. This fellowship is committed to giving and growing, not merely receiving. </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Poppins;">In <i>Your Walk with God is a Community Project</i>, Paul Tripp discusses an "i</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Poppins;">ntentionally- intrusive, Christ-centered, grace-driven, redemptive community." For believers, Christ-centered is good. Grace-driven is good, redemptive is good, and community is good. BUT intentionally-intrusive doesn't sound good. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><b>WHAT IS THE CHURCH TO DO?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><b>DISCIPLE-MAKING<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+28%3A19-20&version=ESV" target="_blank">Matthew 28:19 – 20</a> tells us to make disciples, and this includes teaching for life and teaching them to observe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A11+%E2%80%93+16&version=ESV" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:11 – 16</a> tells us God gave specific people to EQUIP the saints, the church, to do the work of the ministry with the goal of unity and maturity in Christ.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A28+%E2%80%93+29&version=ESV" target="_blank">Colossians 1:28 – 29</a> tells us we must warn and teach for maturity in Christi.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><b>BIBLICAL COUNSELING MINDSET</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">A Biblical Counseling Mindset includes but is not limited to...<br /></span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Preaching that emphasizes <b>life change.<br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Teaching that develops <b>biblical thinking about life.<br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Seeking opportunities to promote <b>life change.<br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Using opportunities in the community to connect <b>with people who need Jesus.<br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Providing opportunities that allow people who are in the church to <b>share struggles of life and find the help they need.<br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Ultimately, every member living in such a way that <b>dependence on Christ is emphasized and encouraged.</b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><i>In looking through this list, a common word in each is life. Disciple-making is about life change for the glory of God.</i></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcnFrWxbLKNydvO2NXHeg2flHoIHQc7CwcgjanPhpk0y5iV7krDYrHAt26JwJR5ryB8oM_a1ZIkj0EOnnn38JrfNdkxqlu0QkicVmdPq53pzRb88bis2iqupv02obMpPZ24EW1UkGkzgVwmfuDK_VnS9goamLPPwZnGub0UFm6PLVELz8breDYg/s1280/how.we.use.the.bible.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcnFrWxbLKNydvO2NXHeg2flHoIHQc7CwcgjanPhpk0y5iV7krDYrHAt26JwJR5ryB8oM_a1ZIkj0EOnnn38JrfNdkxqlu0QkicVmdPq53pzRb88bis2iqupv02obMpPZ24EW1UkGkzgVwmfuDK_VnS9goamLPPwZnGub0UFm6PLVELz8breDYg/w455-h256/how.we.use.the.bible.jpg" width="455" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">More about this triangle will be posted on Thursday</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">With the transitions at Trinity Baptist Church currently, Pastor Jason moving on to another ministry, but the idea of Biblical Counseling has not left Trinity Baptist Church. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Biblical Counseling will look different. <br />Not a counseling pastor specifically focused on counseling.<br />There will be a continued emphasis and encouragement on Biblical counseling through many different means.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The constant encouragement of building godly, grace-filled, caring relationships that encourage spiritual growth.<br />The intentionality of our Adult Christian Education classes. teaching ministry,<br /></span><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The wise counsel of trained, Biblical, godly men and women like Richard VanVels, our pastoral resident, or recommended referrals outside of Trinity Baptist Church.</span><span style="font-family: Poppins;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">An article that better explains this Biblical Counseling mindset is<a href="https://www.9marks.org/article/counseling-and-discipleship/" target="_blank"> Counseling and Discipleship</a> by Deepak Reju. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><b>A CARING FAMILY</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Caring for families that God brings to us. We want to intentionally and zealously disciple the families God brings to us. This is done through Bible lessons, family resources, and our child protection policy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Caring for Temporal and Spiritual </span><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Needs. Check out this post from the Diagnosing Your Spiritual Health class - </span><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/01/concern.html">drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/01/concern.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><br /></span></p></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-54049465951861488572024-02-23T10:30:00.006-05:002024-02-27T12:37:03.930-05:00Spring classes 2024<p style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The Adult Christian Education classes are designed for Biblical Discipleship. Part of this discipleship happens through intentional teaching and meaningful membership - "the commitment Christians make to keep one another accountable for regularly gathering and centering their lives together on the Gospel." (Alex Duke, <a href="https://www.crossway.org/articles/church-membership-is-not-a-one-way-street/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Crossway Link</a>)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">An illustration used to show what active membership/Biblical discipleship involves is the four-chair model.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VRZNFymX4FnIy0d8zTywctKvBjfGXaFaXYI3Um0M0hhVpejN-w31ydXoSR1r3J692mWkHYAh3UT8MORtOTOgAN6Bkwqj2l8-xs16CuoL_3Ty0oe9nupVlQFiDqDphyKRADnFuCaMiLKPXvyUChiE16ZjqPosq-T6h44--R_ln1dxxiQdwic/s2677/four.chairs.png" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2069" data-original-width="2677" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VRZNFymX4FnIy0d8zTywctKvBjfGXaFaXYI3Um0M0hhVpejN-w31ydXoSR1r3J692mWkHYAh3UT8MORtOTOgAN6Bkwqj2l8-xs16CuoL_3Ty0oe9nupVlQFiDqDphyKRADnFuCaMiLKPXvyUChiE16ZjqPosq-T6h44--R_ln1dxxiQdwic/w429-h332/four.chairs.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="429" /></span></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">In this model, the chairs <b>do not represent places of rest and inactivit</b>y. Each chair <b>represents a stage in the growth process</b>. There is a movement to the right. <br />Members of Trinity need to be evangelizing, sharing the Gospel, at their places of work, at their schools, with their neighbors, and in their families. The message of the Gospel will be preached at church services and it can be shared in so many different places.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">The goal of ACE is to provide the education and training needed to establish, edify, and equip believers to never become too comfortable with where they are right now. </span></i><br /></span><p style="color: #333333;"></p><p style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Our Sunday morning classes help Christ-followers move along the Establish - Edify - Equip process. We know that throughout our lives we need to be continually established, edified, and equipped. </span></p><p style="color: #333333;"></p><ul style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Classes that <b>ENGAGE</b><b> </b>God’s FOUNDATION are designed to establish believers in the basics of the Christian faith and Trinity life.</span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Classes that <b>ENGAGE</b><b> </b>God's WORD are designed to edify believers who desire to know the Bible better.</span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Classes that <b>ENGAGE</b><b> </b>God's WORLD are designed to edify believers who desire to know how God's Word connects to our lives and the world at large.</span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">Classes that <b>ENGAGE</b><b> </b>God's WORK are designed to equip believers who are ready to invest and help others grow spiritually.</span></li></ul><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">(This description of the ACE classes at Trinity was originally posted February 2023)</span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">The classes offered each quarter are intentionally meant to grow disciples and make more disciples. With this intentionality in mind, some classes are <b>REPEATED</b> more often. This quarter's Stewardship and Missions/Evangelism are repeated because the topic is part of Trinity's heartbeat and we want each of us to grow in these areas.</span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">In joining a class you are taking a step to grow spiritually and connect with other believers. </span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Poppins;">With that general description of the ACE classes, here are the three classes being offered this spring.</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #050505; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Stewardship (Engaging God’s Work) - Fireplace Room</b>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stewardship is taking responsibility for the things the Lord has entrusted to us. Being faithful with the time, money, and other gifts God has given us. This will examine how to be faithful</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> in these things. We pray this class will help you glorify God in the way you use His gifts.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Poppins;"><b>Song of Solomon (Engaging God's Word) - Chapel<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Poppins;">An introduction to studying Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament. This course is for believers in all walks of life: single, married, with kids, or no kids. We will be discussing the importance of how this text points us to God while giving us a foundation for how to think about marriage.</span></p><div id="Signature" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b style="font-family: Poppins;">Go Tell It (Engaging God's World) - ACE Room #3</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Poppins; line-height: 1.5;">Missions and Evangelism are not programs, classes, committees, or merely a part of a church. Proclaiming the Gospel HERE and THERE should be in the culture of the church and in the heart and life of every member of Trinity. This class will focus on the principles and practices of Missions and Evangelism. The second part of the class will have two options: How to Share the Gospel & What It Means to Be Sure of Your Salvation.</span></div></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-57475668769051676312024-02-11T08:05:00.002-05:002024-02-11T08:07:06.696-05:00Disciplines?<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">This week's question is "Are the Spiritual Disciplines Increasingly Important to You?"</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt;">The Christian Spiritual Disciplines are the God-ordained means found in Scripture by which we bring ourselves before God, experience Him, and are changed into Christlikeness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Spiritual Disciplines are personal and interpersonal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Spiritual Disciplines are biblical.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Spiritual Disciplines are sufficient.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The Spirit of God works through each of these disciplines in unique ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The Spiritual Disciplines are practices, not attitudes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The Spiritual Disciplines are derived from the gospel, not divorced from the gospel. Every Spiritual Discipline is meant to take us deeper into the glories of the gospel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The Spiritual Disciplines are the means to godliness and not the ultimate definition of godliness. 1st Timothy 4:7.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">You will not think of the disciplines as mere duty, nor simply as Christlike patterns to follow, but rather as the ways to experience life and light from heaven to your soul.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">The Spiritual Disciplines are not by themselves the marks of Christlikeness as much as they are the means to it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Devote yourself more to the pursuit of Christlikeness and the enjoyment of God through the Spiritual Disciplines than to the pursuit of efficiency and the completion of to-do lists.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Resist the temptation to believe in microwave spirituality or short-cut Christlikeness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Belleza; mso-ascii-font-family: Belleza; mso-currency-font-family: Belleza; mso-default-font-family: Belleza; mso-eudc-font-family: Belleza; mso-font-kerning: .5pt; mso-greek-font-family: Belleza; mso-hebrew-font-family: Belleza; mso-latin-font-family: Belleza; mso-latinext-font-family: Belleza; mso-ligatures: none; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #242424; mso-style-textfill-type: solid;">Stoke your spiritual life with at least one perceptible poke.</span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-24615753212890986002024-02-04T09:26:00.001-05:002024-02-11T08:07:37.515-05:00Delight?<p><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">This week's question is "Do You Delight In the Bride of Jesus Christ?"</span></span><span style="font-family: Belleza;"> </span></p><p><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Belleza;">From </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Belleza; font-style: italic;">The Gospel Primer - 12. My Inheritance in the Saints</span><span style="font-family: Belleza;"> </span></p><p></p><blockquote><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Belleza;">The gospel is not just a message of reconciliation with God, but it also heralds the reconciliation of all believers to one another in Christ. Through the death of Christ, God has brought peace where there was once hostility, and He has broken down the racial, economic, and social barriers that once divided us outside of Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:11; 3:28; Revelation 5:9)</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Also, when God saved us, He made us members of His </span><span style="font-family: Belleza;">household, (Ephesians 2:19) and He gave us as gifts to one another (Ephesians 1:8).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza;"> </span><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Each brother and sister is a portion of my gospel </span><span style="font-family: Belleza;">inheritance from God, and I am a portion of their inheritance as well. We are significant players in each other’s gospel </span><span style="font-family: Belleza;">narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 1:22, 23).</span></blockquote><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died (Ephesians 5:25), the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“One of the best tests of whether we belong to Christ is whether we delight in His delight, namely, the people who comprise His church.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“Saints aren’t just the exceptionally devoted believers now in heaven, they are also the people who believe and live the Word of God in their workaday world on Earth.” </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“Delighting in ‘the saints in the land’ means finding irresistible joy in the presence and the ministry of Christ’s people, both in their congregational form and as individuals.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 30pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“Here are two of many possible suggestions for expressing this delight.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 30pt; text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“Grow to see the bride of Christ and her work more as Jesus does.”</span></li><li>”Demonstrate your delight in the bride of Christ in ways that will make a real difference.”</li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Belleza;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-56733299211753671622024-01-20T22:18:00.005-05:002024-01-21T09:12:42.252-05:00Concern?<p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Question 5: Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Jn13.1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="285" src="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Jn13.1" width="507" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">This week's question, at this time, is especially important. "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words" is a quote that is very popular and not true. Words must be used to preach the Gospel. At the same time, those who have been saved and changed by the Gospel will desire to help those who have temporals. "Those following Jesus can trace their progress in His likeness by tracking their growth in their concern for both the spiritual and temporal needs of others." (68)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">It is not either word, Spiritual truth - the Gospel OR Temporal actions - Love and Caring for physical needs. When someone hears and responds to the truth of John 3:16, they will live out the truth of First John 3:16.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sm97pX4_FRV9l6qsflP-wZtASAFb3gwuPsgxbbIZpQx5YtjBCUI2XTAF8FOCTx5Q-RA-Bxdy6_-Wbm8moPT_K_2NIGQOQ_VvqZ8MfcAqsSxuAZMY_9bXG3KCenqq5qH-jwoTWVI_uFL6YvGn4J4xeCG_q4CNsLOodg46cTFf_pr1FAILz6tzlA/s1024/1Jn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sm97pX4_FRV9l6qsflP-wZtASAFb3gwuPsgxbbIZpQx5YtjBCUI2XTAF8FOCTx5Q-RA-Bxdy6_-Wbm8moPT_K_2NIGQOQ_VvqZ8MfcAqsSxuAZMY_9bXG3KCenqq5qH-jwoTWVI_uFL6YvGn4J4xeCG_q4CNsLOodg46cTFf_pr1FAILz6tzlA/w477-h358/1Jn3.jpg" width="477" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Jesus' earthly ministry included teaching spiritual truths, meeting physical needs (healing and providing food), and dying as the perfect lamb of God for God's glory and our good. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span class="text Jas-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202%3A15-16&version=NASB" target="_blank">James 2:15 - 16</a> reminds us of how we should respond to physical needs. "</span><span class="text Jas-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB-30296" style="background-color: white;">If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, </span><span class="text Jas-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB-30297" style="background-color: white;">and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' yet you do not give them what is necessary for <i>their</i> body, what use is that?"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health lists people through history who spoke truth and demonstrated love to others.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">George Whitefield was a fruitful evangelist who started an orphanage.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">William Wilberforce fought to end slavery.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">William Carey worked against child sacrifice and widow burning in India.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">George Mueller prayed and helped orphans.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">"C.H. Spurgeon, remembered as the Prince of Preachers, built more than seventeen homes for elderly widows, two orphanages." (74)</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Whitney gives three things to help you grow in your concern for the needs of others.</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Go to the Great Ophthalmologists.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Look for the hurt in every heart and home</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Do something for the gospel and the good of others</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">I would like to add a fourth. Remember how needy you were before you were a child of God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">The last paragraph of this chapter serves as a great reminder.</span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Don't sit passively until you "feel led" to particular needs. Go adventurously into your world with the gospel and the love of Christ, and you'll find Him guiding you to the needs He wants your to meet. And as you become His instrument in meeting the needs of others, you'll find Him meeting many needs of your own. (78)</span></p></blockquote>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-20179527171921800542024-01-14T18:00:00.187-05:002024-01-19T16:38:26.896-05:00Sensitive?<p><span style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">This week's lesson never happened in person.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">"Are You More Sensitive to God's Presence?"</span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">You may have had a unique God experience at camp, during a quiet alone time, in a Sunday service, looking at a baby, reading a book, or so many other times.</span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">"But how often are you aware of the presence of God? If we take the teaching of the Bible seriously, perception of God should not be an occasional experience." (pg. 52)</span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">Continual awareness of God's presence helps with growing in the spiritual disciplines, fighting besetting sin, and depending on God more and more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span style="color: #242424;">The presence of God is made known in so many different ways. Through the </span><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">universal presence of God, his omnipresence is that God is everywhere but is not everything. The Christological presence of God is the fact that Jesus is God. God is present in the believer through the indwelling presence of God. In sermons and specific work on earth, the perceptible presence of God is known. God's heavenly presence is what heaven is all about. People often focus on the streets of gold, the "mansion," and seeing loved ones. But the new heaven and new earth will be about God. The eternal presence of God will be known through love and mercy OR divine wrath and justice.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">We need to seek God "through His Word; or through experiences which are founded on His Word (such as biblical worship); or through daily life in ways that are informed by His Word (such as doing our work "as to the Lord," Ephesians 6:7)." Knowing God's presence must go through His word not our emotions and experiences. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbv0NFoXj_TII6xCeWdDEj0LltERJ343qouU7udcVqCw5K33DZLB900RKNiI-JsrUh7h5M_LiRM-kM4zB2J6wJJI7OTY0UZ15hCE3408RGLe3A9xu_VLer-NosqMjyavhUBB-Z4yHZ1fAnCdtKXNpTZANFs-b2jfksX6wZabgg-yrQ9E2sy1ZFA/s225/eph67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbv0NFoXj_TII6xCeWdDEj0LltERJ343qouU7udcVqCw5K33DZLB900RKNiI-JsrUh7h5M_LiRM-kM4zB2J6wJJI7OTY0UZ15hCE3408RGLe3A9xu_VLer-NosqMjyavhUBB-Z4yHZ1fAnCdtKXNpTZANFs-b2jfksX6wZabgg-yrQ9E2sy1ZFA/w264-h264/eph67.jpg" width="264" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">We can grow through God's Desertions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">These desertions are not because God has left us but rather because we feel he has left us.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“If, while reading this chapter, you’ve thought, I haven’t been sensing God’s presence much lately, take note that it’s one thing to long for a sense of God’s presence while not experiencing it, and another to live routinely with no awareness of His absence.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Some Practical Ways to Grow In Our Awareness of God’s Presence:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Go often to where God has revealed Himself most clearly—the Bible.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Acknowledge His presence with you by talking with Him.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Seek Him in the manifestation of His presence given only in congregational worship.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Continually reaffirm the truth that He is omnipresent. God seems so far away.</span></li></ul><p></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-58068886663516644752024-01-05T16:00:00.016-05:002024-01-07T17:52:05.403-05:00Love?<p><b><span style="font-family: Belleza;">More will be added after tomorrow's class.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">According to Bloomberg, the middle of February is "Fall off the Wagon" Day. This is the day when there is an uptick in fast food visits and a drop in weekly visits to the gym. All too often, this same "Fall off the Wagon" trend occurs in the spiritual disciplines. You start strong and committed but after a period of time, old habits, the busyness of life, and spiritual lethargy creep in. There is a drop in Bible reading and an uptick in media consumption. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><i>10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health</i> by Don Whitney contains some great questions to ask yourself throughout the year. They will help you examine your spiritual life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">The question for the first Spiritual Health class of 2024 is "Are you more loving?" For the other questions, go to <span style="color: #242424; text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions">tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">There are at least two reasons why this is a great question to ask yourself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Belleza;">The first reason is because love is a main characteristic of a Christian and a command in God's Word.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span><span lang="en-US">J</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;">ohn 15:12 </span>“This is</span> My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span>John 15:17 This </span>I command you, that you love one another.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span>Romans 12:10 Be </span> devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span>1 Corinthians 16:14 All that you do must be done </span> in love.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span><span>1 John 3:16 </span></span>By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;"><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Jn15.12-13" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="263" src="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Jn15.12-13" width="467" /></a></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">“A Christian may advance in many areas, including the ability to witness, teach, or even preach, or biblical insight and knowledge, or faith, giving, and sacrifice, but these mean little without growth in the most important Christian distinctive—love (see 1 Corinthians 13:1—3)”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">The second reason is because of the present culture. When "love is love" is used as a slogan to promote sexual immorality, it is important to know what true, Biblical love is and how we should live in this world.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">The chapter begins to offer an explanation of what love is using two questions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">What kind of love?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">God-glorifying, supernatural love.<br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">More than natural affections. That is love shown in normal circumstances such as a parents' love for their children or love for a good friend.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">Not "Does it please me first?" love. "Any benefits it brings to others are a secondary to the question "Does it please me?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">Not "I'll love you if you'll love me" love. "The test of Christlikeness is not the greatness of your love toward those who love you,, but the bounty of your love toward those who do not."</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">What are some areas (not all) where love shows itself?</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">Love for other Christians. This love strengthens believers. Read Galatians 6:10.</span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">Love for the lost. Read Mark 10:21 and Luke 6:27, 32.</span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza; text-indent: -18pt;">Love for your family. Read Ephesians 5:25</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #242424; font-family: Belleza;">The chapter concludes with suggestions for maturing in the most Christlike of graces - love:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Meditate on love as the most important distinguishing mark</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Let your heart be often warmed by the fire of God’s love</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Discover assurance that God is your Father by loving as He loves</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Delight in Imitating God</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Identify those relationships where you most need to grow in love</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Belleza;">Take the initiative in showing love, especially when you have little or no expectation of love in return.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Belleza;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-11348224984811673402023-12-29T00:08:00.039-05:002023-12-30T10:17:06.200-05:00Control?<span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">Forgot to post this after the December 14th class.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Are You Governed Increasingly by God's Word?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">Question 2 from</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica; font-style: italic;"> <br />10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">by Don Whitney</span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/2Ti3.16-17" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="202" src="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/2Ti3.16-17" width="359" /></a></span></div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the beginning of a new year, many people commit to a read-through the Bible plan. I very much encourage you to read through the Bible, but do not read it merely to say you read it.<br /></span></span><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">Read the Bible with the purpose of knowing God, the Father, the Creator and Sustainer of the World.</span><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read the Bible with the purpose of knowing God, the Son, the Savior of the saint's soul.</span></span></div><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read the Bible with the purpose of knowing God, the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Intercessor.</span></span></div><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A15-17&version=NASB" target="_blank">Second Timothy 3:15 - 17</a> says Scripture gives us what we need for salvation and spiritual growth. </span></span><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">A specific phrase in this question is very important "governed increasingly." </span></div><div><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">This question implies that a healthy Christian is always growing. <br />"So we speak of being governed by Scriptures as (1) a general characteristic of a true follower of Jesus, and yet (2) something which increasingly characterizes the growing Christian."</span></div><div><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;">This growth does not come from us. It comes through the Holy Spirit as we spend time in God's word. </span></div><div><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whitney gives several suggestions to help go</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -18pt;">Deepen Your Desire for God’s Word</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read less, if necessary, in order to meditate more.</span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Make Time for God’s Word.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">List at least five areas you have not recently considered from a Biblical perspective. Here are some examples.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Church<span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">: attendance, baptism, membership, serving in, giving to, learning in, praying with, fellowship, Lord's Supper, promoting unity</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Discipleship: meditation on Scripture, prayer, evangelism, missions, priorities/stewardship of time, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, learning/ reading, legalism versus consistency</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Family: marriage, family crisis, unconverted family members, childlessness, dealing with aging parents, parenting children, parenting teenagers, divorce, sex, family worship</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Money: giving, saving, investing, controlling debt, contentment, budgeting, gambling, wasting, not loving it, simplifying with less</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Work: the amount of, purpose, travel, attitude, dependability, integrity, witness at, relationships with boss, coworkers, customers, suppliers), integration of faith, retirement</span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Train yourself to ask, “How does the Bible speak to this?”</span></li></ol><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions">tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions</a></span></div></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-84885548596244083142023-12-10T23:24:00.004-05:002023-12-10T23:24:00.141-05:00Thrist?<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span style="color: #242424; text-align: center;">Question 1 is</span><span style="color: #242424; text-align: center;"> "</span><span style="color: #242424; text-align: center;">Do You Thirst for God?"</span><span style="color: #242424;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmJgD-SAqRi_A6n3pqT6Kpu5hNLhUabgVHpAZu_GcBclaFxMKNUCT-NZoGUqtgxk81aeIx-8izC6YBaYA8_4C2OQLHxK2QizXEAYfvM9sdRvv_HwccmDfcEUoByr2xC2ovklH0EauXhGkpE6vhig9CrHxMtKHlvyM_tUpcDJQKVldIbUtnmelGw/s1920/753BEA65-D514-4BF6-908B-4D49016ABE27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmJgD-SAqRi_A6n3pqT6Kpu5hNLhUabgVHpAZu_GcBclaFxMKNUCT-NZoGUqtgxk81aeIx-8izC6YBaYA8_4C2OQLHxK2QizXEAYfvM9sdRvv_HwccmDfcEUoByr2xC2ovklH0EauXhGkpE6vhig9CrHxMtKHlvyM_tUpcDJQKVldIbUtnmelGw/s320/753BEA65-D514-4BF6-908B-4D49016ABE27.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Psalm 42:1—2</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="chapter-2" style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span class="text Ps-42-1" style="position: relative;">As the deer pants for the water brooks,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black;" /><span class="text Ps-42-1" style="background-color: white; color: black; position: relative;">So my soul pants for You, God.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: black;" /><span class="text Ps-42-2" id="en-NASB-14558" style="background-color: white; color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: black;" /><span class="text Ps-42-2" style="background-color: white; color: black; position: relative;">When shall I come and appear before God?</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Three Kinds of Spiritual Thirst</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">There is the Thirst of the </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold; text-indent: -18pt;">EMPTY </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">Soul. Augustine wrote, </span><span style="color: #242424;">“You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." We were created to worship. This worship - thirst for God - for many is not a longing for God in the scripture but for a god in their own image. John 4:14 states, "</span><span class="text John-4-14" id="en-NASB-26164" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” This EMPTY thirst is only truly satisfied in Jesus Christ.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">Thirst of the </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold; text-indent: -18pt;">DRY </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;">Soul is the Christian soul that knows what he is missing. Whitney refers to three ways the Christian soul can be dry: (1) drinking too much from the "dessicating" fountains of the world (2) perceived "God desertions" (3) prolonged mental and/or physical fatigue. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;">Finally, there is the Thirst of the </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;">SATISFIED </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;">Soul. </span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A7%E2%80%9411&version=NASB" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank">Philippians 3:7—11</a><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A8&version=NASB" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank">Psalm 34:8</a><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> refer to this thirst-inducing thirst. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Whitney goes on to suggest three action steps to help satisfy this thirst for God. ways to </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meditate on the Bible. This means more than just reading the Bible. Meditating involves thinking about what the passage says. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray the Bible</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read Thirst-making writers.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Valley of Vision by various Puritans</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Holiness by J.C. Ryle</span></li></ul></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> To go back to the initial post, click </span></span><span style="color: #242424; font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions">tinyurl.com/tbctenquestions</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-6278703380311577902023-12-03T10:30:00.012-05:002024-01-19T17:20:55.354-05:00Ten Questions<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"'Many religious people' are always morbidly craving fresh excitement, and they seem to care little what it is if they only get it." J.C. Ryle wrote this in 1879, and it is still very true today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This fall, I am teaching a class, 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health (<a href="Check out Ten Questiohttps://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14236805" target="_blank">Hoopla - audio</a>, <a href="https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/13391909" target="_blank">Hoopla -ebook</a>). The ten questions came from Don Whitney's book by the same title.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HWpvBWsoJeS0y6DUCQcpFd0KLBbuRtdmv0sg9Qjjt2dsSgFtmo83VapDSFlEn2eMrpvjlLcAq3XX6mXgRHQdGzAVRIAeBQhgfA1KkKeYIsrxMP7zgqz03kYY5b9l12y8Xo7KJm7nrpNCc_FpHFYLJOq9gKj7XOJqTBBr_LCwQW_Uh-jdIxk8iA/s600/81SYzgxim9L._AC_UL600_SR600,600_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HWpvBWsoJeS0y6DUCQcpFd0KLBbuRtdmv0sg9Qjjt2dsSgFtmo83VapDSFlEn2eMrpvjlLcAq3XX6mXgRHQdGzAVRIAeBQhgfA1KkKeYIsrxMP7zgqz03kYY5b9l12y8Xo7KJm7nrpNCc_FpHFYLJOq9gKj7XOJqTBBr_LCwQW_Uh-jdIxk8iA/s320/81SYzgxim9L._AC_UL600_SR600,600_.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Starting on December 10, we will look at one question a week. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Question 1: <i><u><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/12/thrist.html">Do You Thirst for God?</a><br /></u></i>Question 2: <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/12/control.html"><i>Are you governed increasingly by God's Word?</i></a><br />Question 3: <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/01/love.html">Are you more loving?</a><br />Question 4: <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2024/01/sensitive.html">Are you more sensitive to God's presence?</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Each lesson is an independent lesson. The class time will include scripture, thoughts about that week's question, prayer time, and heart-felt discussion</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here is the official class description;</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the distractions of daily life, it can be hard to evaluate how we are doing spiritually. But monitoring the pulse of your spiritual health is just as important as monitoring your mental and physical health. This class will focus on asking yourself 10 questions developed from Scripture and praying for one another. </span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As part of the introduction this past Sunday, we did a couple of things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First, we introduced the theme verses, John 11:25, 26. </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text John-11-25" id="en-NASB-26541" style="background-color: white;">Jesus said to her, <span class="woj">“I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, </span></span><span class="text John-11-26" id="en-NASB-26542" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The basic idea was we cannot talk about spiritual health unless we are spiritually alive in Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Second, we talked about what self-inquiry/self-examination is. In his book Practical Theology, J.C. Ryle shares ten questions about self-inquiry. For a free PDF copy of the book go to <a href="https://www.monergism.com/practical-religion-ebook" target="_blank">https://www.monergism.com/practical-religion-ebook</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here are the ten questions followed by five different groups of people who would benefit from asking these questions to themselves.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;"><span dir="ltr"></span>10 Questions About Self-Inquiry<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;">From Practical Theology by J.C. Ryle</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9pt; text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li><span style="color: #242424; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we ever think about our souls at all?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we ever do anything about our souls?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Are we trying to satisfy our consciences with a mere formal religion?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Have we received the forgiveness of our sins?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we know anything by experience of conversion to God?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we know anything of practical Christian holiness?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we know anything of enjoying the means of grace?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we ever try to do good in the world?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we know anything of living the life of habitual communion with Christ?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do we know anything of being ready for Christ’s coming?</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #242424; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Consider these questions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #242424; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is any reader of this paper asleep and utterly thoughtless about religion?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is any reader of this paper feeling self-condemned, and that there is no hope for his soul?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is any reader of this paper a professing believer in Christ, but a believer without my joy and peace and comfort?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is there any reader of this paper a believer oppressed with doubts and fears, on account of his feebleness, infirmity, and sense of sin?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is any reader of this paper sometimes downcast by the trial he meets with in the way to heaven, bodily trials, family trials, trials of circumstance, trials from neighbors, and trials from the world?</span></li></ul><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-73079968559684445842023-11-19T10:30:00.005-05:002023-12-05T22:30:51.972-05:00The Gathering of the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">For every We Are the
Church post, click <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span>.<br />For information about the Winter 2023/24 classes, starting December 3rd, click <a href="https://trinitybaptistgr.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2029418" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">God is to be worshiped the
way God said we are to worship him.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Over the last ten weeks of
this We Are the Church, we have looked at many different areas of the church.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Meaningful
Membership: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Intentional
Relationships: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Ministries
of the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Celebrating
with the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Prayer
& the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Bible & the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Preaching
& the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Leadership
& the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Discipline
& the Church: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">The week's study, the Gathering of the Church, is probably the most
thought about, misunderstood, and underestimated part of the church.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Most
thought about - When people think about the church, they usually think
about the Sunday morning gathering of the church - the people of God
meeting at a specific location at a specific time. </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Misunderstood
- As we have been learning, the church is much more than this.
The gathering of the church is a critical part of the church family. </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Underestimated
- People, even many church people, underestimate the importance of
believers regularly gathering together with the purpose of worshipping</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">In this Gathering of the Church study, we will examine why this gathering
time is essential. That reason is one word - <b>worship</b>.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">We gather together NOT for entertainment and NOT merely to learn.
We gather together to worship God. </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">We glorify him through meaningful membership, intentional relationships,
and all church ministries.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">We do this as we celebrate, pray, and learn God's Word through preaching
and many other ways.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">We do this as we work together as a congregation. The elders serve
the congregation by leading, and the deacons serve the congregation by serving
(H.B. Charles Jr).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">We seek to grow together as Christ-followers through discipleship and
discipline.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Let's begin by looking at what worship is not, with a look at the
Pharisees.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #24272a; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why did Jesus reject the worship of the Pharisees?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #24272a; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"Jesus rejects the worship of the Pharisees,
saying their worship was futile because they were teaching their doctrines
rather than God’s doctrines. They were worshiping according to their will
rather than according to His will." </span><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2003/the-regulative-principle-of-worship/#:~:text=The%20Regulative%20Principle%20is%20an,alone%20does%20order%20His%20worship." target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">(The Regulative Principle of Worship by Banner of Truth)</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #24272a; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Re</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ad <span>Matthew 23</span> </span><span style="color: #24272a; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">for reasons
why Jesus rejected the Pharisees.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">In what ways do people “worship” incorrectly?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Selfishness is the primary way people "worship"
incorrectly. While the idea of entertainment-focused, attractional,
seeker churches might come to mind, we must carefully evaluate our
motives. If the church gathering time must be the way I like it, we are
moving towards or steeped in selfishness. </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Another path to incorrect worship is focusing on minor things instead of
major ones. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">How are we to worship God?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Trinity's website says, "We believe that God’s pleasure, not
our own, is our greatest goal. We invite you to worship with us. As
we study the Bible God’s Word, we are both challenged and encouraged in our
relationship with Him and with each other."</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RWTSXmcLsiJCtMVHShoKzlCRibErwviQL43F3eB03V9JFLGWku1TbRJBqKQZ-1bSZGBpQbIDepvr6Na6E6x43PyyxBVqvdxZ7h2fD3orQJNlp2ppSh9E0qf-dOakLsn252tXnWANSCG0Vj-zM7Vh3wipAMw7AVCPTD81YvtNonAom91AjNAbdQ/s697/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20193251.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="697" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RWTSXmcLsiJCtMVHShoKzlCRibErwviQL43F3eB03V9JFLGWku1TbRJBqKQZ-1bSZGBpQbIDepvr6Na6E6x43PyyxBVqvdxZ7h2fD3orQJNlp2ppSh9E0qf-dOakLsn252tXnWANSCG0Vj-zM7Vh3wipAMw7AVCPTD81YvtNonAom91AjNAbdQ/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-18%20193251.png" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>Committing to other
believers</i> - </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/09/meaningful-membership-watc.html"><span style="color: blue;">Meaningful Membership</span></a></span><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>Looking to the Bible as
our guide</i> - the Regulative Principle - <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-bible-church-watc.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Bible & the Church</span></a>. “The
acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself and limited
by his own revealed will” (Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1).</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Preaching and living out
the preaching of God's Word</i> - <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/10/preaching-church-watc.html"><span style="color: blue;">Preaching & the Church</span></a>. Preaching in
which the text's meaning is the sermon's point. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Singing the Bible</i> - <a href="https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/2022-05-01_PM_Boomsma_Edification_through_music.mp3" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Standards for Edification through Musi</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">c. Questions to ask about the songs we sing:</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">1. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the song
biblically true?</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">2. Is the song God/Christ-focused?</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">3. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the song
clear?</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">4. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Does the song
reflect the breadth of Biblical expression?</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">5. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is the song
singable by the congregation?</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 66.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 66.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">6. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Does it bring
unity to the church? Remember, unity does not mean conformity.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>Praying the Bible</i>—<a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/10/prayer-church-watc.html"><span style="color: blue;">Praying & the Church</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> - </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Prayer
is not one of many ministries. Pray, a dependence on God, should be part
of EVERYTHING the church does. While we should pray for physical
needs, the church's prayers should focus on spiritual growth and salvation.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>Seeing the Bible in the two sacraments of the church, baptism and the
Lord’s Supper </i>(</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Matt.%2028%3A19/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Matt.
28:19</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">; </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Acts%202%3A38%E2%80%9339/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Acts 2:38–39</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">; </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/1%20Cor.%2011%3A23%E2%80%9326/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">1 Cor. 11:23–26</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">; </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Col.%202%3A11%E2%80%9312/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Col. 2:11–12</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><b>An Additional Resource: </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Book: </span><i><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">God Made Me for Worship. </span></i><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">is an excellent resource to help parents talk to their children about the gathering of the church for worship.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;">Website: </span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/10-reasons-why-the-church-gathers/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">10 Reasons Why the Church Gathers</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As Christians, we should all desire to gather with one another as often
as possible. As motivation, here are ten reasons why gathering
regularly with the church is important:</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To obey God’s command (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Heb.%2010%3A23-25/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Heb. 10:23-25</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To be equipped for the work of ministry (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Eph.%204%3A11-14/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Eph. 4:11-14</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To have our minds renewed through the preaching of the
Word (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Rom.%2012%3A1-2/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Rom. 12:1-2</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To employ our spiritual gifts to benefit the church (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/1%20Cor.%2012/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">1
Cor. 12</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To evangelize the watching world through our love for
one another (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/John%2013%3A35/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">John
13:35</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To be held accountable by other mature brothers and
sisters in the Lord (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Acts%2018%3A24-26/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Acts 18:24-26</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To be discipled by older, godly men and women (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Titus%202%3A2-6/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Titus 2:2-6</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To ease the mind of your shepherd so he is not
worrying about your soul (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Heb.%2013%3A17/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Heb.
13:17</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To grow in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as we
are taught His Word (</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/1%20Pet.%202%3A2/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">1 Pet. 2:2</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">).</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To
be encouraged to persevere in the faith by other believers (<a href="https://www.esv.org/verses/Heb.%203%3A12-14/"><span style="color: #72abbf;">Heb. 3:12-14</span></a>)</span><span style="font-family: Belleza; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-2273632401021901952023-11-12T11:00:00.124-05:002023-12-05T22:32:20.933-05:00Discipline & the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This title could seem scary if you have an incorrect view of discipline.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That is discipline = punishment. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Biblical church discipline is not focused on punishment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is meant for spiritual growth and restoration. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It involves building relationships with your church family, overlooking what can be overlooked, calling
out sin, calling people to repentance, and glorifying our Holy God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There should be discipleship and relationship before what is often thought of as church discipline.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Suppose you think about some of the lessons we have covered. In that case,<span style="line-height: 107%;"> they are connected to this truth: m</span>eaningful membership, intentional relationship, prayer for one another, thinking Biblically, and the importance of leadership (congregational and elders).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The misconception of church discipline is that the goal is to kick people out, and it begins by calling out sin before the entire church body.ck people out</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The reality of church discipline is a desire for holy, sanctified living, godly relationships, and restoration. Matthew 18 discipline needs to be done with care, caution, wisdom, love and a DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We need the whole church to be brought into the discipline process because the entire church brought the
individual into the membership. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remember the keywords we have used in the previous
lessons: submission, unity, and harmony.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is church discipline biblical? <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+2%3A6%2C+Galatians+6%3A1%2C+Ephesians+5%3A11%2C+1+Thessalonians+5%3A14%2C+2+Thessalonians+3%3A6+%E2%80%93+15%2C+1+Timothy+5%3A19+%E2%80%93+20%2C+2+Timothy+3%3A2+%E2%80%93+5%2C+Titus+3%3A10%2C+Hebrews+12%3A11%2C+Matthew+18%3A15+-17%2C+1+Corinthians+5&version=NASB" target="_blank">HERE</a> is a list of passages that share the reason for and importance of church discipline.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2 Corinthians 2:6</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Galatians 6:1</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ephesians 5:11</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1 Thessalonians 5:14</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 15</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1 Timothy 5:19 – 20</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">2 Timothy 3:2 – 5</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Titus 3:10</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hebrews 12:11</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Matthew 18:15 -17</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1 Corinthians 5</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span>What is the difference between discipline in Matthew
18 and 1 Corinthians 5</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Here are some thoughts from</span> <i>Is It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? </i>by Jonathan Leeman</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Question: What does removing a person from membership mean?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Answer: A church is no longer willing to affirm
that a person is a Christian.</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Removal is not an absolute ‘yes’ or ‘no’
in response to someone’s profession of faith. It is a removal of the ‘yes.”</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span>Question: What sin leads to public discipline?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> Answer: </span>Outward, Significant, and Unrepentant</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> A r</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">esource to check out is </span><a href="http://www.9marks.org/article/church-discipline-primer"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.9marks.org/article/church-discipline-primer</span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The last class is next week (11/19),</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> the Gathering of the Church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church lesson, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a>.</span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-35011095621223770542023-11-05T11:00:00.024-05:002023-12-05T22:32:48.751-05:00Leadership & the Church WATC<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: helvetica;">Who leads the church?</span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">There are two different, yet
complementary, answers to this question.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The first answer is the </span><strong>SIMPLE and ULTIMATE ANSWER.</strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">It is simple and ultimate. At
the same time, it may seem like a Sunday School answer.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus
leads the church.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In Matthew 28:18 – 20, Jesus
tells the disciples what they and those after them must do. “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of
all the nations.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus tells the disciples in
John 13:34-35 that if they love one another as he loved them, people will know
they are His disciples. Their love will show that they follow Jesus.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Through
the inspired writing of Paul, the Lord gives the requirements of a church
leader in First Timothy 2:12 and 3:2.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In Second Timothy 4:1 – 2,
Paul exhorts Timothy and others to preach the Word. He says this preaching
must correct, rebuke, and exhort.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In each of these verses,
there is either an authoritative claim of Jesus or direction from God on how
the church should work.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Ultimately, the church is
under Jesus Christ’s authority. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Now, the </span><strong>COMPLICATED ANSWER.</strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">God has given specific people
roles in the church. The specific roles are the congregation, elders &
deacons.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">At Trinity Baptist
Church, we believe in meaningful membership. Because of this, the congregation
has a responsibility for the spiritual health of the whole church.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">This responsibility makes
itself known in several ways. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">As discussed in last week’s preaching and the Church lesson, there is a mutual
ministry of the Word each of us, not just the preacher, needs to be involved
in. We disciple others and seek to be discipled by others. If we are a gathered
body of Gospel believers and Jesus followers, we must live out and guard the
Gospel.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">As we will discuss in next
week’s Discipline and the Church lesson, we want to encourage each other to
live godly lives. When there is serious, unrepentant, the loving, restorative,
God-glorifying process of church discipline needs to happen (Matthew 18). As a
congregation, we bring in church members through a vote, and this vote is so
much more than an election. It is a commitment to one another.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: helvetica;">As a congregation, we are
also responsible for the physical care of one another through the benevolent
fund, the election of deacons, and the personal looking out for one
another. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">At Trinity Baptist
Church, we also believe in the two Biblical church offices of elders and
deacons.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Elders are godly men “commissioned by
God and appointed by the congregation.” The deacons and the elders have very
similar qualifications in the Bible. However, one difference is teaching the
Bible (1 Timothy 3:2). This teaching can but does not always present itself as
preaching to the whole body. It includes teaching smaller groups, children, and
individual mentoring relationships. As the whole church is responsible for guarding the Gospel, the elders have a special gift and responsibility to do
the same. This shows itself in the way elders care for the spiritual well-being
of God’s sheep and model obedience before the congregation. (1 Timothy 3)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">First
Peter 5:1-3 provides clear directions for the elders.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Therefore, I urge elders
among you, as </span><em>your</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings
of Christ, </span><em>and</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory
that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to </span><em>the will of</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> God;
and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">those assigned to your care, but by </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">proving to be examples to the flock.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"></span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Deacons</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In Acts 6, we see the use of
the Word deacon as the disciples appoint seven men to serve tables so they can
focus on the Word and prayer. The deacons will serve the church and the elders
while the elders lead the church through prayer and the Word.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></em></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Deacon Ministry
Handbook</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> by Alan Witham lists several ways deacons serve the
church (remember, the church is people, not a building or meeting time).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Deacons
serve by helping the church navigate conflict in healthy ways – Acts 6:1
(Deacon Ministry Handbook).</span></span></span></li><li><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Deacons
serve by engaging in shared ministry with the pastor – Acts 6:2, 4 (DMC).</span></span></span></li><li><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Deacons
serve by meeting physical needs within the church and community – Acts 6:3
(DMC).</span></span></span></li><li><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Deacons
serve by helping the church maintain a healthy balance between in-reach and
outreach – Acts .6:7 (DMC)</span></span></span></li></ul><p></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: helvetica;">Three key words that describe
deacons and deacon assistants are mercy, servicing, and mobilizers.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">H.B. Charles Jr. provides a
basic explanation of the difference between elders and deacons.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> “If
elders serve by leading, deacons lead by serving.” H.B. Charles Jr.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/12</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Discipline & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-40777526282292741552023-10-29T11:00:00.013-04:002023-12-05T22:34:39.014-05:00Preaching & the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeAKB2w6oR8FXLUveknsKKVhv4ElPGHQeEE2JcrQNeOOn14cTkkJ7jHCPoAYscNnBWjymeVdPq184kAhTLhm6Ygv_AWn13BPQcIMO_rp4eT21vciU0GfNWOmo10xhxbpANILyREI3Nd5mJsu1UO_gCzbUqbT7gKYYe7gBF782OVJfbtOqFTxeCw/s403/11-06-Macarthur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeAKB2w6oR8FXLUveknsKKVhv4ElPGHQeEE2JcrQNeOOn14cTkkJ7jHCPoAYscNnBWjymeVdPq184kAhTLhm6Ygv_AWn13BPQcIMO_rp4eT21vciU0GfNWOmo10xhxbpANILyREI3Nd5mJsu1UO_gCzbUqbT7gKYYe7gBF782OVJfbtOqFTxeCw/s320/11-06-Macarthur.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Explanation of expository preaching</span></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">What isn’t expository preaching?</span> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Expository preaching is not theme-oriented. The ideas of the preacher or the pressure of contemporary ideas is not the driving force of the message. The message is not focused on the now.</span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While expository preaching focuses on the Bible, it is not merely informational, such as a verse-by-verse commentary. Also, it is not merely inspirational - encouraging people to do good for the sake of good or humanity.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is expository preaching?</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">One of the most basic explanations of expository preaching is the meaning of the text is the point of
the sermon. In</span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <i>Preach,</i> Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert write, “Expositional preaching is preaching in which the main point of the
Biblical text being considered becomes the main point of the sermon being
preached.</span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In expository preaching, the Bible provides direction. Whether the message is one stand alone message or a series of messages through the specific book. A verse-by-verse study through a book, like Pastor Brett's current series, provides a Bible based frame work for a preaching schedule. The preacher does not decide what the topic is from week to week. The text does.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why expository preaching?</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In ACE class, Pastor Brett shared several reasons for expository preaching</span></p></blockquote><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clarity. God’s word is clearer and better than the ideas of man.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Protects the truth, God’s authority against the preacher, crowd, and our own comfort.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Demands a choice, spiritual growth, or rebellion.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Promotes biblical literacy </span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Here are Bible examples of
expositional preaching (</span><a href="https://www.9marks.org/answer/do-we-see-examples-expositional-preaching-bible/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">https://www.9marks.org/answer/do-we-see-examples-expositional-preaching-bible/</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;">)</span></span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">Levitical
priests taught the law. </span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;">(Deut. 33:10).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">Ezra
and the Levites gave the sense. </span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;">(Neh. 8:8).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">Prophets
were to speak God’s Word, not their own thoughts. </span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;">(Jer. 14:14).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">Jesus
interpreted the law and prophets, and more is needed</span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 24:27, 44).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">On Pentecost, Peter
expounded the Psalms. </span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;">Joel 2:28-32, Psalm
16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">Hebrews </span></strong><em style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;">is</span></em><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #252525;"> an
expositional sermon. </span></strong><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -0.25in;">Hebrews 3:7-4:13 is an extended
exposition on portions of Psalm 95.</span></span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Expository Listening</span></b> - Mutual Ministry of the Word</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In class, we talked about what listeners of expository preaching need to do. Here is the list.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be here</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be honest. Remember, expository exposes the word. It also reveals the human heart.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray for the pastor.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remember the Bible. Before the sermon, read the passage. On the day of the sermon, bring a Bible.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prepare your heart, mind, and body.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Live out the sermon.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If the expectation is the pastor preach an expository sermon (and at Trinity Baptist Church, that is the case), then the congregation has specific responsibilities and expectations. All Christians have the privilege and responsibility
to prayerfully speak the word of God to each other and non-Christians as to how God gives this growth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> There is a chapter in “The Trellis and the Vine” entitled “Why Sunday Morning Sermons are Necessary but not Sufficient.” The basic idea of the chapter is summarized in this statement: “It is the word of the gospel that is sufficient, rather than any one particular form of its delivery.” Each of us has a responsibility to encourage one another with God’s word to one another because it is the Spirit of God that changes and grows people. Not one specific delivery method of God’s word.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church and the sermon are so much more than an information download.<br />The church and the sermon are not for our entertainment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“The church is a community of saved people
who listen to, obey, and speak the truth of God’s Word into the lives of others
for the glory of God. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The sermon is one
method used to educate and excite the community to live for the good of others
and the glory of God.” (unknown)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Some practical listening helps from </span><i>Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Basic Reminders:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Expect God to speak.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Admit God knows better than you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Check that the preacher says what the
passage says.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hear the sermon in church.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be there week by week.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do what the Bible says.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do what the Bible says today – and rejoice!</span></li></ol><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How to listen to Bad Sermons</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ash explains different types of bad sermons and gives some help for listening to each type:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Dull sermons</b> “leave a lot to be desired in its style or presentation.”</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But above all, we must search our own hearts and come to the sermon praying for God's help to listen as attentively as our bodies will let us... My advice is not to worry that quite a bit of the sermon may go over our heards or bypass our consciousness, but to ask God that some part of it may stick and be turned in us to repentance and faith.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trying taking some note or at least having paper and pen with you, with the aim of jotting down a verse or truth that you can take home and respond to. Trying going with a friend and agreeing together not to spend lunch lamenting the preacher's inadequacies, but rather, sharing positive Bible truths that you have learned or been reminded of, and praying together for God's help in putting them into practice.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Biblically inadequate </b>sermons “import all sorts of things not in the passage, or to screen out important things in the passage that do not feature in the preacher’s understanding of biblical truth.” When responding to these sermons, Ash offers dangers to avoid.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Avoid developing a critical spirit.” </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Avoid being gullible and credulous, believing whatever any preacher says, so long as they say it plausibly and well.”</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Heretical sermons </b>contain “an error in something central to Christian faith and not something peripheral” (not a difference in church government but a denial of Jesus as Messiah), are not merely a mistake or weakness that is put right when corrected or is actively taught to the church.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here is Ash’s counsel for heretical sermons.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The way to listen to these sorts of sermons is to stop listening to them! That is to say, we ought to move away from that kind of church and find a church where they believe and teach the Bible faithfully. We will not look for an exciting church, where the preaching entertains; we will look for a faithful, Bible teaching church (p. 28).<br /></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span><b>SCHEDULE</b></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span>11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>RESOURCES</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pastor Brett on Preaching and Leadership</span></div></div></blockquote><div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbcgr/embed/episodes/Pastor-Brett-on-Preaching-and-Leadership-e2b3pp6" width="400px"></iframe> </p></span></div></blockquote></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p></span></div></div></blockquote><p> </p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-10120999600823675522023-10-22T11:00:00.157-04:002023-12-06T12:17:51.858-05:00The Bible & the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s word provides
what we need for spiritual growth and salvation</span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span><div><span><span><span><span><span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b>Why do we use the Bible?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The very simple answer is - God spoke.<br />And if we want to know him more we should study what he said about himself, us and this world. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It is the Word of God, and we are the People of God</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We need to remember that what we believe
is grounded in the Bible, not the traditions of men, the ever-changing ideas of men.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some of the central, very necessary BIG ideas found throughout scripture are:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">God is the Sovereign Creator – Examples: </span>Romans
8:28; Isaiah 45:7-9; Job 42:2; Ephesians 1:11. Link: <a href="http://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-gods-sovereignty/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-gods-sovereignty/</span></a></li><li>Man is so very sinful – Examples: Genesis
3:6; Colossians 3:5-6; Romans 3:23, 5:12-15. Link: <a href="http://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-sin/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-sin/</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li><li>We need a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior
– Examples: Romans
1:16, 6:23; John 1:12-13; Titus 2:11-14. Link: <a href="http://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-salvation/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-salvation/</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li></ul><br />In his book <i>,</i> Bobby Jamieson says "The Bible is a story that preaches a message. From beginning to end, the Bible tells a single story of salvation."<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He goes on to say that the goal of reading and teaching Scripture is to love God and our neighbors better. We don't do these things for mere knowledge but for growth in godliness.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What do we use the Bible for?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Clear, True Evangelism. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The truth of the Gospel was written down
in the Bible. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The truth of the Gospel in the Bible must
be shared with those who need salvation by those who have been saved.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Personal, Spiritual Growth. The Bible helps us individually examine our lives with God as the one who is the most important. We do personal Bible reading and study because it will shape our head, heart, and hand.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Corporate, Spiritual Growth. As we grow individually, we should be growing together as a church. As the body of believers, we should </span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">want to do what the Bible commands, and not </span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">do what the Bible
forbids. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In everything else (discernible issues), we
want to be marked by grace and governed by the truth of the Bible.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The importance of scripture is shown in<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> Scripture (</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 1:3;
and Titus 2:1). </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Most of Paul’s epistles and other epistles
were written to clarify or correct doctrine and inform people how to live out
the Christian life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">The importance of scripture is also seen in Church History. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Real life examples can be seen throughout church history, which is a
reason we offer an Adult Christian Education class on Church History. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Think about these two specific things
about the Bible from Church History as shared in the “Men Who Rocked the World”
podcast by Steven Lawson, specifically, the episode entitled <a href="https://spotify.link/BiunLONw6Db" target="_blank">The Puritan Commitment to Sola Scriptura</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">One
of Martin Luther’s 3 marks of a Biblical church is Preaching the Bible</span></li><li>A
major aspect of the Reformation was the clarity of the Scriptures, teaching in German not Latin. Quotes like this one from Martin Luther the importance of scripture in the Reformers' lives. "<span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Evidenced in this quote “A simple layman
armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it.”</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the church is a
community of believers encouraging and helping one another, how should that
impact our Bible reading? We should make the private reading of and meditating on the Bible a priority. We should look for more and more ways to encourage one another with God's Word. We need to be sharing the truth of the Gospel with those who desperately need to be saved.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Resources</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Verse of the Day Images - <a href="https://wiki.logos.com/Biblia_Verse_of_the_Day_images">wiki.logos.com/Biblia_Verse_of_the_Day_images</a></li><li>Scripture Type - <a href="https://scripturetype.com/">scripturetype.com/</a></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Schedule</p></span></span></span></span></span></div><div>10/29<span> Preaching & the Church</span></div><span>11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span>11/19</span><span> The Gathering of the Church</span><span> </span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church post, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p></span></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-63700996572670730752023-10-15T11:00:00.259-04:002023-10-17T15:22:32.793-04:00Prayer & the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrpmnSLp-UfUSzE1QdxybgOKynIkRaSpdrm0JA3lWjLy0cCDcyi5ptMadAHxSW1p7BOztYmpE4Wl8kSf-vs8MrolqFEXjI-N89quDlyEioMESBvmQjDVkIvXouHuw2HnDfer9NDu6Mckgj2VHk0rpZikI6-bVztHL51KfstkpEKWA47ssEImfIg/s900/EHLehzAWwAoE_D5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrpmnSLp-UfUSzE1QdxybgOKynIkRaSpdrm0JA3lWjLy0cCDcyi5ptMadAHxSW1p7BOztYmpE4Wl8kSf-vs8MrolqFEXjI-N89quDlyEioMESBvmQjDVkIvXouHuw2HnDfer9NDu6Mckgj2VHk0rpZikI6-bVztHL51KfstkpEKWA47ssEImfIg/w340-h340/EHLehzAWwAoE_D5.jpg" width="340" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prayer is not one of many different ministries. Pray, a dependence on God, should be part of EVERYTHING the church does. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While we should pray for physical needs, the church's prayers should focus on spiritual growth and salvation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What are some reasons we don't pray? You may have come up with some different ones in your class.</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seems like a waste of time. </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lie: Let's get working and doing something.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Truth: We are commanded to pray. We need to grow in our dependence on God. </span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I don't know how to pray."</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lie: There is an exact way that I need to pray.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Truth: Ask others to help you grow in your prayer life. If you aren't sure how to pray, look to the Bible for examples of prayer. </span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If God is sovereign, why bother praying.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lie: There is no reason to pray if God is sovereign.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Truth: We are commanded to pray. The purpose of prayer is not to change God's mind. </span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What would mark a praying church?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People praying more.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Harmony and unity in Christ.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Growing dependence upon God</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Understanding the prayer is not ONE MORE activity of the church. Prayer lies at the heart of all the
church's ministry. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(The Praying Church,
p. 28)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Individuals praying for each other and
asking others to pray for you. </span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">This "We Are the Church" study and last week's 75-year celebration are not meant to focus on Trinity Baptist Church, but on the God Trinity worships. </span>We do church best when we don't look at the church but
gaze at Christ (<i>From The Praying Church</i>
by Paul Miller). One way to grow in your prayer life is to look at and consider how to pray in scripture.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here are three of Paul's prayers found in Ephesians for the church in Ephesus. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ephesians 1:15-24</span></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do not cease to give thanks for God's people.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that God will give the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that believers would know the hope to which he has called you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that believers would know the hope, the riches, the greatness of his power.</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ephesians 3:14-19</span></li><ul><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray for believers to be strengthened with power through His Spirit and according to the riches of his glory.</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that Christ would dwell in the hearts of believers.</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray for the strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray for believers to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that believers may be filled with all the fullness of God.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ephesians 6:18-20</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray at all times.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pray that words may be given so the mystery of the gospel will be boldly proclaimed.</span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Remaining We Are the Church Sessions</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span>10/22<span> </span><span> The Bible & the Church<br />10/29<span> Preaching & the Church<br />11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Additional Resources:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fighter Verses - <a href="https://www.fighterverses.com/" target="_blank">www.fighterverses.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">40 Days of Life - <a href="https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/blogs.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/blogs.aspx</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2023/03/prayerful-dependence.html" target="_blank">Prayerful Dependence</a> from Church Ministries Conference workshop March of 2023.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Encouragement to Pray: Prayer Promises from Thomas Hill</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A5&version=NASB" target="_blank">James 1:5</a> - <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Jas1.5" target="_blank"><i>James 1;5 Image</i></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A14+-+16&version=NASB" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:14 - 16</a> - <i><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Heb4.14" target="_blank">Heb 4:14 Image</a>; <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Heb4.15" target="_blank">Heb 4:15 Image</a>; <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Heb4.16" target="_blank">Heb. 4:16 Image</a>; </i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6+-+7&version=NASB" target="_blank">Philippians 4:6 - 7</a> - <i><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Php4.6" target="_blank">Phil 4:6 Image</a>; <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Php4.7" target="_blank">Phil 4:7 Image</a></i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13%2C+19&version=NASB" target="_blank">Philippians 4:13, 19</a> - <i><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Php4.13" target="_blank">Phil 4:13 Image</a>; <a href="Phil 4:19 Image" target="_blank">Phil 4:19 Image</a></i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A26+-+28&version=NASB" target="_blank">Romans 8:26 - 28</a> - <i><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Ro8.26" target="_blank">Rom 8:26 Image</a>; <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Ro8.27" target="_blank">Rom 8:27 Image</a>; <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Ro8.28" target="_blank">Rom 8:28 Image</a></i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=NASB" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:7</a> - <a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/1Pe5.7" target="_blank"><i>1 Peter 5:7 Image</i></a></span></li><li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A1+-+3&version=NASB" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">James 4:1 - 3</span></a></li></ul><p></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-71547901931290648272023-10-08T11:00:00.010-04:002023-10-14T17:42:00.962-04:00TBC 75th Celebration <p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This week's "class" is not a formal study. It is a great day to celebrate God's goodness and grace made known in and through Trinity Baptist Church.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://fb.watch/nGLUaebZoT/" target="_blank">HERE</a> is the link to the Celebration Service</span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here is the post on this Sunday's post from the Trinity Kidz page. </span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The theme of today's lesson is Celebration. Trinity is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the open house, receiving new members, communion, and a Gospel reminder from Pastor Brett. The 1st - 5th graders will be learning about two events that remind us of what we need to celebrate: Rebirth through Jesus (John 3) and Salvation in Jesus (John 4). </span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take time today, this week, this month, and all of your time together to celebrate as a family THE HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST!<br />As you CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESSS AS A FAMILY, make it a habit to talk about these things regularly!</span></p><p style="background-color: white;"></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Talk to your children about what it means to be a member of a local church, which is why we are doing the We Are the Church study. This could be a weekly talking point.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Talk to your children about what communion is. Remind them that it is a memorial and a celebration of Jesus for those who have been saved. This could be a monthly talking point.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE GOSPEL, SALVATION, and JESUS CHRIST. Use the booklet they will be taking home this morning. This should be a daily conversation!</span></li></ul></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We need to remember the church of God is the pillar and support of the truth.<br />It is not a marketplace for your preferred activities and ideas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is about Jesus, his incarnation, righteousness, death, resurrection, and ascension that we need to share with the world.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m3Tho6V-c-FAKGZZd5d5BZYEhvWdD5u5VFu8u9huNbRq9th9OGFV_-SkB50mkfcu7MfM7ceTO65f02WX368Cayho93-ejPHxo_pnotGKfoaCd25bYhSq89jAeuv8Jb6Zq2mpzT77RTLd9IaKq_gRNCmnM3ZSGOUQeTAzq6iY2VD-spMgMtzMPA/s386/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20173448.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="386" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m3Tho6V-c-FAKGZZd5d5BZYEhvWdD5u5VFu8u9huNbRq9th9OGFV_-SkB50mkfcu7MfM7ceTO65f02WX368Cayho93-ejPHxo_pnotGKfoaCd25bYhSq89jAeuv8Jb6Zq2mpzT77RTLd9IaKq_gRNCmnM3ZSGOUQeTAzq6iY2VD-spMgMtzMPA/s320/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20173448.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the schedule for the next six weeks of class.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10/15</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Prayer & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10/22</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Bible & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10/29</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Preaching & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/05</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Leadership & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/12</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Discipline & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-5378621715202266072023-10-01T11:00:00.014-04:002023-10-02T11:46:54.748-04:00Ministries of the Church WATC<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPnijGGvjNW_1v3q_pWay7g34iNXkabl0kycvfbmnaHLyFEELVT3ybrBeuC9qF-_esVJUsCWhaUmip55SrL4CaSO6BiEkd9qyuXwSkhGdJwCtCpwMx3h_slY1Fqp-V4qT3tZzjhXh1fb3dONXwYq4RzsCwO5aXbtHWHBpxFY0QH21s3pZL14hVw/s500/we%20are%20the%20church%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPnijGGvjNW_1v3q_pWay7g34iNXkabl0kycvfbmnaHLyFEELVT3ybrBeuC9qF-_esVJUsCWhaUmip55SrL4CaSO6BiEkd9qyuXwSkhGdJwCtCpwMx3h_slY1Fqp-V4qT3tZzjhXh1fb3dONXwYq4RzsCwO5aXbtHWHBpxFY0QH21s3pZL14hVw/w135-h135/we%20are%20the%20church%20(2).png" width="135" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Big
Reminder: The church ministries are formal, in the bulletin on the
schedule, and informal, as each of us go throughout the day.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What
attributes of God are incommunicable (<span style="color: #333333;">God alone possesses
thus, we cannot possess them)?</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #040c28;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Omnipresence, omniscience,
omnipotence, immutability, self-existence (aseity), and eternal</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What attributes of God are communicable (We can be like God
in these attributes)</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His moral attributes: love,
goodness, and kindness</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What do
these questions about the attributes of God have to do with the ministries of
the church?</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the
first chapter of <i>Discipling,</i> Mark Dever makes two points.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
change: “One of God’s incommunicable attributes is that he is immutable.
HE DOESN’T CHANGE. But we change.” </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
influence and are influenced by others: "We human beings are open to
being influenced... In fact, I want to take this one step further: all of
us inevitably will be influenced by others, and we will in turn influence
others."</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the
heart of discipleship is that we are not like God – we change. Change is
inevitable.<br />
We should grow in love, goodness, and kindness – we must grow in
Christlikeness. <br />
We can only do this through God's power and for God's glory.<br />
The formal ministries of the church are meant to help us change and be change agents. <br />
For more verses on discipleship, go to <a href="http://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-discipleship/"><span style="color: blue;">www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-discipleship/</span></a> and
consider what these verses say. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As we
think about the ministries of the church and discipleship, think about these
two questions:</span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>What is essential for spiritual
growth in a believer?</b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Word of God<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The People of God<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Time</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>What can be helpful but optional
for a believer's spiritual growth? Not necessarily bad, but it can
be misplaced. What are the benefits? What are potential
problems?</b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Books other than the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Programs ("new and exciting
OR "older and familiar")<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Events<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Potlucks<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ministry
is NOT programs or events planned to keep people busy and entertained.<br />Ministry is saints in motion towards Christlikeness for the glory of God. (from <i>Praying Church</i> by Paul Miller)<br />The formal ministries of the church are meant to help people grow in godliness,
connect with people, and help others do the same. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last
week's review of the membership included the BAPTIST acrostic. The letter
P is Priesthood of the Believers. The ministries of the church are directly related to this point. Each and every member of the
church has the opportunity and RESPONSIBILITY to minister to one
another. This is not limited to those who stand between a pulpit. <br />Another
way to think of the Priesthood of the Believers is the phrase <i>Ministry
of the Pew</i> - every believer speaking God's word and truth to one
another.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
The pastors, elders, and deacons have specific ministries and responsibilities
at Trinity.<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is so
important that we remember that EACH church member has a ministry at TBC. <br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brochure
#2 says, "speaking the Word of God to one another for the glory of
God."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A book that has influenced Trinity's
philosophy of discipleship and programs is <i>The Trellis and The Vine. </i> The basic idea is that vinework is people-work and discipleship. The trellis are the programs
and systems designed to help the discipleship process. It says, "If the real work of God is people-work – the prayerful speaking of His
word by one person to another – then the jobs are never all taken. The
opportunities for Christians to ministry personally to others are
limitless."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>With
these truths and thoughts about discipleship and ministry, here are some
considerations connected to specific ministry programs at Trinity Baptist
Church</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Biblical Counseling<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Statement from the website:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;">No matter how long we've been a
follower of Jesus Christ, everyone needs fellowship and reminders of God's
truth to persevere, grow in our faith, and help others do the same.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;">Such encouragement typically happens
through participating in Sunday services and getting together with other
Christians regularly for bible study, prayer, and discussion about applying
biblical truth to life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes, we need help beyond those
general means of discipleship and encouragement. It could be a trial that's
hard to process, a long-standing pattern of sin, the impact of unwise choices,
or a broken relationship. How do we continue to obey and trust God when
it gets tough? That's the role counseling can take in the Christian life. It provides intensive and focused support for a particular issue to help us
walk in obedience, faithfully steer life's storms, and persevere when hope,
reconciliation, or change is impossible.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Formally</b>:
Biblical Counseling is meant to help people with difficulties with
relationships, emotions, or habits. This formal counseling involves
meeting with someone with specific training, scheduling appointments, and
more.</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Informally</b>: Everyone
should be prepared to help people seek God and search scriptures for help.</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Women's Ministry & Men's Ministry
(Taken from <i>Women's Ministry In the Local Church</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>They are NOT c</span>onsumer-oriented. "We
deserve a ministry that focuses on us." With a consumer focus, the goal is to have EVERY
woman or man participate in planned activities. And the ultimate motivation is merely
because we love people and want to help them.</span></li><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle"><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="square">
</ul>
</ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>They need to be </span>Kingdom-oriented: How can
we invest in women or men in a way that equips them as disciples for
their own spiritual growth, the good of families and individuals of the
church, the betterment of the total ministry of the church, and their
life in the world. With a kingdom orientation, the goal is to serve and
encourage every woman or man in the church for God's glory. And the ultimate motivation is an
insatiable longing to see the display of God's glory in the local
church. </span></li>
</ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Children and Families & Teens
and Families<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>With both ministries, we want to
disciple the children and teens God brings to us and </span>help parents in
their role of primary disciple-maker in their child's life.</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Adult Christian Education classes
during regular quarters<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>We want these classes to engage God's
Word, God's World, and God's Work. </span>With these as our goal, we
specifically offer the following</span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">one book of the Bible class
each quarter.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Classes on evangelism/missions,
theology, prayer, church history, and parenting are regularly repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Occasional classes on current
issues.</span></li></ul></ul></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Four
specific words that are not separate ministry programs. They should be
part of everything we do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Missions: We should all be involved in Missions. See the mission's brochure. </span>We should pray for and support our supported workers in each ministry while encouraging individuals to prayerfully consider serving the Lord in missions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Evangelism: This is not one of many programs. It should be part of everything.</span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>The sermons and each ministry should encourage and equip Christians to know and share their faith. The ministries also may offer events for y</span>ou to invite unsaved people to.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Discipleship: This is not one of many programs. It should be part of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle"><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Class, groups, Bible studies, and Children's and Youth ministries are designed to help people connect with others for spiritual growth.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></ul><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prayer: On August 8, we are going to look at PRAYER.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;">ADDITIONAL RESOURCES</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Book: 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.challies.com/book-reviews/ten-questions-to-diagnose-your-spiritual-health/">www.challies.com/book-reviews/ten-questions-to-diagnose-your-spiritual-health/</a></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Article: "Why don't churches
make disciples?" This series of articles, <a href="http://www.9marks.org/article/5-reasons-we-dont-disciple-part-4/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: blue;">www.9marks.org/article/5-reasons-we-dont-disciple-part-4/</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">,
provides some possible answers.</span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">REMAINING LESSON SCHEDULE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10/08
75th Celebration<br />10/15 Prayer & the Church<br />10/22 The Bible & the Church<br />10/29 Preaching & the Church<br />11/05 Leadership & the Church<br />11/12 Discipline & the Church<br />11/19 The Gathering of the Church </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For
every "We Are the Church," click <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/27592965/537862171520226607"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a></span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-65342496061910210942023-09-24T11:00:00.110-04:002023-09-24T15:37:52.014-04:00Intentional Relationships WATC<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church seeks to build intentional relationships
with believers to help each other grow and with unbelievers to share the gospel
with them sooner rather than later. This
lesson and post explore what “intentional relationships” mean and look like
in the church body.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To help each member understand what new members and
every member is committing to when they join Trinity Baptist Church, this
week’s lesson and last week’s lesson, Meaningful Membership, reviewed the two
weeks of the New Members class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two main parts of the second week of membership are (1)
two initial requirements of church membership – salvation and baptism and (2) BAPTIST
acrostic that explains some distinctive beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">B</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">IBLICAL AUTHORITY: The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of
God. (2 Tim. 3:16‑17, 2 Tim. 3:16-4:2)</span></span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">A</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">UTONOMY OF THE LOCAL
CHURCH: (Col. 1:18; 2 Cor. 8:1-5,19,23)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">P</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">RIESTHOOD OF EVERY
BELIEVER: Every believer has direct
access to God. (Rev. 1:5‑6, Heb. 10:19, 1 Tim. 2:5)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">T</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">WO ORDINANCES: Baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper
(Acts 2:41,47, 1 Cor. 11:23‑31)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">I</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">NDIVIDUAL SOUL
LIBERTY: Every believer can distinguish
truth from error through the teaching of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1
John 2:20, 27; 1 Cor. 2:12)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">S</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">AVED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
(Acts 2:41, 47)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">T</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">WO OFFICES: Elder and Deacon (Phil. 1:1, I Tim. 3:1‑13). There is a Plurality of Leadership – Never
CEO.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Each member
of the church plays an important role in the life of one another because each member is a part
of the body of Christ. In <i>The Gospel
Primer</i>, Milton Vincent captures this reality with the following statement <span style="background: white;">“The more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel,
the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role
that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the
role that they must be allowed to play in mine.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">This intentionality is made known in the many "one another" commands. Many of these commands can be found at </span></span><a href="http://www.challies.com/articles/one-another-the-bible-community/">www.challies.com/articles/one-another-the-bible-community/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0IT1gXhMShrAj87dBgcRaQOfa4_1ZNcDHC_E-byldew1sEzJ3gTVkbwMUJGBA71BOdb3q0qSeAeuAMeHeH9G2heLPNmnBlS3i0tUV1dv6YbtiHZspIGIPytKRqAaNdK71aXqSqx-FISS1zAJNzm7reqU84nsJ7LqJkctEF5s9oNM_F84wwuBpg/s1920/IMG_1320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0IT1gXhMShrAj87dBgcRaQOfa4_1ZNcDHC_E-byldew1sEzJ3gTVkbwMUJGBA71BOdb3q0qSeAeuAMeHeH9G2heLPNmnBlS3i0tUV1dv6YbtiHZspIGIPytKRqAaNdK71aXqSqx-FISS1zAJNzm7reqU84nsJ7LqJkctEF5s9oNM_F84wwuBpg/s320/IMG_1320.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Hebrews 10:24 and 25 tell us to meet together.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This spurring one another towards love and
good deeds and encouraging one another needs to happen all throughout the week,
not just Sunday morning. It is not passively showing on Sunday mornings. It is intentionally building relationships with others </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These intentional relationships are built on Sunday mornings, o</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">ther regular meeting times, special events, and t</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">hroughout the week.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;">These intentional relationships are built on different levels. There are deep personal relationships, friends, and acquaintances.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">A helpful intentional relationships resource is </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.crossway.org/articles/building-a-culture-of-spiritually-intentional-relationships/">www.crossway.org/articles/building-a-culture-of-spiritually-intentional-relationships/</a></span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">, which contains four P’s that can lead to persistent cultural change. You can talk about how each of these can help
grow intentional relationships.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Church members seek to
build intentional relationships with believers to help each other grow and with
unbelievers to share the gospel with them sooner rather than later</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Upcoming Classes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;">10/01</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ministries of the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">10/08</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">75th Celebration<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">10/15</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> Prayer & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">10/22</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> The Bible & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">10/29</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> Preaching & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">11/05</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> Leadership & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">11/12</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> Discipline & the Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church post, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-12586292869048167932023-09-17T11:00:00.072-04:002023-09-24T09:02:39.765-04:00Meaningful Membership WATC<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Php2.3-4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="253" src="https://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/Php2.3-4" width="451" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>The first part of the Meaningful Membership and Intentional
Relationship class reviews the two weeks of membership class.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%;">One of the first questions in the membership
class is, “Why should one join a church?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%;">While there are multiple answers, here are two answers
Pastor Brett shares with potential members.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%;">Membership means something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%;">True believers have been brought into the family of God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 107%;">The Bible does not talk about church membership. However, it does talk about submission. Submission to God and to one another.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul writes to the church, not
the individual. He tells “</span>all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (1:1) how to live. <br />Be of the same mind, united in spirit, intent
on one purpose, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, humbly consider another as more important than themselves, and don’t look out for your own
interests but also for the interests of others.
<br />What a submission list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: helvetica;">We live this way because of who Jesus is and what He has done <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the church,
this <span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">submission
is made...<br /></span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">physically (gathering with church family on Sunday and throughout the week),<br /></span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">geographically (giving members access to me for discipleship and hospitality),<br /></span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">socially (Our strongest relationships should encourage us to grow in Christlikeness.</span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">We should have friends outside of our comfort
zone.), <br />financially (voluntary, sacrificially, for God’s glory), <br />ugliness (We
tend only to want to submit to people or organizations if they are perfect or
support our desires.)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif">Most of the N.T.
was given to the church to be applied in the community, not individually. Even Paul's letter to Timothy is written "so </span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">that
you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God.”</span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif">(1 Tim. 3:15)</span><span face="Leelawadee, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">We have brochures on various aspects of life at
Trinity Baptist Church. One of these brochures is “What does it mean
to be a church member?” brochure.</span> It states that the church is a community of
believers committed to growing together in godliness and testifying corporately
about Jesus Christ to a fallen world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">This is done by...<br /></span>- Protecting sound doctrine<br />- Pursuing unity in the church<br />- Promoting church purity<br />- Participating in the church<br />- Providing for the church </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">During the class time and hopefully outside of the class time, talk to others about how God has used the church, saved people to help you grow in godliness. </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">Remember, </span><span style="color: #252525; text-indent: -24px;">God can and does use specific ministries at specific times in the life of a church. Ultimately membership is about a commitment to be used by God in the lives of others and to allow others to be used by God in your life.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">To read more about meaningful membership, check out </span><a href="https://www.9marks.org/answer/what-meaningful-membership/"><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">https://www.9marks.org/answer/what-meaningful-membership/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One part, and the key part, of Meaningful Membership
is that members are saved, they understand the importance of salvation, and
because of this, they desire to see others saved.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9/24</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span> </span>Intentional Relationships<br />10/1<span> </span><span> </span><span>Ministries of the Church<br />10/08<span> </span><span>75th Celebration<br />10/15<span> </span><span> Prayer & the Church<br />10/22<span> </span><span> The Bible & the Church<br />10/29<span> Preaching & the Church<br />11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11/19</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The Gathering of the Church</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer has a section (216-217) very much connected with this week's lesson - "The
Bible doesn't teach church membership."</span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The New Testament does not command Christians to join a
local church, probably because it did not need to. What New Testament follower
of Jesus would refuse to join his body? On the day the church began, 3,00 people
believed and were baptized and added to the church. In the ensuing days, "all the
believers were together," and "every day the Lord added to their number
those who were being saved" (Acts 2:41-47). This pattern of believing and
joining the church continued throughout the book of Acts. Is it possible to
believe in Jesus and not belong to his local assembly? Maybe, but it never
occurred to an apostle that anyone would, If someone refused baptism and
membership in a local assembly, they would be counted as a genuine believer.
The church assumed everyone who was baptized by the Spirit had by that baptism, become a member of the body of Christ. They belonged
(1 Cor 12:12-13).° </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
do not know how the New Testament church kept track of its members (did they
keep membership rolls?), but there are several Scriptures that assume they had
them. Paul tells Christians directly, "Now you are the body of Christ, and
individual members of it" (v. 27). The New Testament church held elections
for deacons and to send men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 6:1-4; 15:22).
Surely, they knew who had a vote and who did not. Membership is also required
for church discipline. Jesus said if our offending brother will not listen to
our rebuke, we should "tell the church" (Matt 18:15-17). How do we
tell the church if we do not know who belongs to the church? If our erring
brother does not repent, Paul said we must "remove the evil person from
among [us]" (1 Cor 5:13).
How do we remove a person from among us if we do not know who counts as us?
Paul said God judges those outside the church and we judge those inside, so
when we evict people from membership, we are leaving them to the judgment of
God (vv. 12-13). How do we do this without a clear boundary between those
inside and outside the church?</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p>Finally, God says the elders of the church are responsible
for the people under their care. They must "be on guard for yourselves and
for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to
shepherd the church of God" (Acts 20:28). They "will give an
account" to God for how well they kept "watch over your souls"
(Heb 13:17). If they "shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out
of compulsion but willingly," they "will receive the unfading crown
of glory" when Jesus returns (1 Pet 5:1-4). The elders are not responsible
for everyone, or even every Christian. They are responsible for the people in
their flock, which assumes they know who is a member of their church and who is
not. </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">New Testament Christians could not imagine uniting with Jesus but not his
church. Neither should we.</span></p></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church post, click </span><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church" style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">HERE</a></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
</div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-17024800802048154712023-09-11T12:22:00.007-04:002023-09-14T22:57:31.687-04:00Surgery Day Hope Reminder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgnPj90pYCO2Fd-SfOt6tfMgDO694aSLKD2nQenzr_Ovh--MGr5UMCzfKcNgect2E1-2bdzyx8z0JxKykgsaEV-dODe9f5rVH3iqSSP4xEOiRH7LszZMs6V0JetRaUT_Zm-6aksR5raYtl9mK-K13rdBA82EdMKnA_O4hlAIp4k_FzjVxKN4dqw/s1920/IMG_3140.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgnPj90pYCO2Fd-SfOt6tfMgDO694aSLKD2nQenzr_Ovh--MGr5UMCzfKcNgect2E1-2bdzyx8z0JxKykgsaEV-dODe9f5rVH3iqSSP4xEOiRH7LszZMs6V0JetRaUT_Zm-6aksR5raYtl9mK-K13rdBA82EdMKnA_O4hlAIp4k_FzjVxKN4dqw/s320/IMG_3140.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We have been reminding Josiah, and ourselves, that this senior year injury reminds us of some important, basic truths.<div>It is not everything. It is not a defining event.<div>It is not nothing. It is a significant event in his life.</div><div>It is something. God is using this for His glory in Josiah’s life. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is part of a devotional I read to Josiah before his shoulder surgery. While we are disappointed that he will miss sports for a big chunk of his senior year. We are praying that his, and our, hope in God will continue to grow.<p></p><p> “Hope: Living Confidently in God” by John Crotts The verse is Psalm 62:5</p><p>“The fact that we have to wait on God is not accidental. It is not a delay. He designs times of waiting, using them to build our patience and to strengthen our hope. When God’s children patiently expect him to bring the help they need, it shows God that they recognize their dependence on him and trust him to come through.”</p><p>“God’s timing also has purposes beyond you. Have you considered God may be delaying the answer to your prayer so that your testimony of waiting (prolonging your active hope) on him can help someone else who is watching?”</p><p>“Although you don’t have access to God’s calendar, you can know his heart as revealed in his Word. Your hope for God’s good work in future events is just as sure as all God has accomplished in the past. Until God finishes his plan, you must wait for him—but you can know for certain that God’s sovereign plan is good and wise. Waiting upon him is never in vain. He will always come through. He will deliver on every one of his promises. Your godly desires will be satisfied, according to God’s perfect will and in God’s perfect timing.”</p></div></div>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-8990390068388816182023-09-10T12:30:00.022-04:002023-09-24T09:02:59.704-04:00Intro WATC<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church post, click </span><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church" style="text-indent: -24px;">HERE</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As we dig even deeper into the
Biblical idea of the church in general and what Trinity Baptist Church does and
why, let's look at some primary reasons for doing this topic (We
Are the Church) this way (in our Deacon Care Groups). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“We Are the Church” is the Adult Christian Education everyone will be
doing this fall because we must constantly be reminded of who we are and what we
should be about. In the “Theology
Matters” study this summer, Zach shared this one-sentence
explanation of the church.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church is
the assembly of believers who regularly meet together across the whole world,
glorifying God by obeying His Word and discipling one another in the unity that
comes through Christ Jesus.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As we begin this study on September 10, two ideas will
be repeated throughout the entire series.
<br /></span></span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The church is a specific group of people – saved people. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">This group of people is focused on the
glorification of God. Two ways we do
this are through helping and equipping believers to grow in the Gospel &
sharing the Gospel with those who need to be saved</span></span></li></ol><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the first week of every membership class, Pastor Brett shares
some incorrect ideas about the church.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">
The church is not a club, a voluntary organization, or a service provider<br /></span>The church is not a meeting time. There are times when the church gathers.<br />The church is not a building. There may be a designated place where the church
meets together.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What does the Bible say the church is? God's word contains several different images to explain what the church is.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Ephesians 5:22-23, the church is called a bride. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 1 Timothy 3:14-15 and Romans 8:15-17, 29-30, the
church is a family.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwx1SYVhUh99YBLNPdR4bRk52yCO0giZ22lZefmOVeAyTGqBokBsCbcTD_dDUsEQpkdqKTbZTJYO0JiRBPEFcvpEnqAD6rHZLoXyPePqAoLKYcf2olaZdSIFejyXdT-Kes8vgTVc-zR6joMa3ZrMruWxrDER4XAizrPwxxmWgFkfu99Mb7lLnLg/s1920/7DB03CC8-9AC4-48E6-898D-B67101DFE122.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwx1SYVhUh99YBLNPdR4bRk52yCO0giZ22lZefmOVeAyTGqBokBsCbcTD_dDUsEQpkdqKTbZTJYO0JiRBPEFcvpEnqAD6rHZLoXyPePqAoLKYcf2olaZdSIFejyXdT-Kes8vgTVc-zR6joMa3ZrMruWxrDER4XAizrPwxxmWgFkfu99Mb7lLnLg/s320/7DB03CC8-9AC4-48E6-898D-B67101DFE122.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians
12:13; and Ephesians 4:11-12, the church is a body. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-H69i0Vra4pkuoQoOEh_45O5h4ZEJHBDFkE1MPj8UCwB8xputFp_EoV_AuZqrpWW0hPfmJBDgtL2nfsfqYwToavUrTMxTbBRJNRfywTftWjO4LDradcAu8SO565UyH6iZfvK4MtOnmPSRV8lZzPtHwmhXGK63__s6JYyYyNYnCMHy7m9ePBcNg/s1920/40A9B881-22FB-4E2F-8F9A-86E0E77A3C2E.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-H69i0Vra4pkuoQoOEh_45O5h4ZEJHBDFkE1MPj8UCwB8xputFp_EoV_AuZqrpWW0hPfmJBDgtL2nfsfqYwToavUrTMxTbBRJNRfywTftWjO4LDradcAu8SO565UyH6iZfvK4MtOnmPSRV8lZzPtHwmhXGK63__s6JYyYyNYnCMHy7m9ePBcNg/s320/40A9B881-22FB-4E2F-8F9A-86E0E77A3C2E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Ephesians 2:19-22, the church is a building. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ppSSE_581Vb1x6-nvaOXRvOs4uAokv90p7KB-eXWWlhbn6pE4txDb75U0zd2XFE6vwYTziVbLGvRWgsOHqP3gFtyQXdy51fx0im3GKhfpKm90UFypoJEf41r_ao8h_DdN0RuTxk-CpcZ2iKCfyCYWln8XS5ww-lNZxNqxurFpR1SyrBfIytd1Q/s1920/E4866F2E-17B2-415A-8DEB-82EB85FC4779.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ppSSE_581Vb1x6-nvaOXRvOs4uAokv90p7KB-eXWWlhbn6pE4txDb75U0zd2XFE6vwYTziVbLGvRWgsOHqP3gFtyQXdy51fx0im3GKhfpKm90UFypoJEf41r_ao8h_DdN0RuTxk-CpcZ2iKCfyCYWln8XS5ww-lNZxNqxurFpR1SyrBfIytd1Q/s320/E4866F2E-17B2-415A-8DEB-82EB85FC4779.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Acts 20:28-32, the church is a flock.</span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church of God must
live according to God’s plan in dependence upon God’s power for God’s glory.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A11-16&version=NASB1995" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:11-16</a> shows us that God provided apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for equipping the saints. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">This is a familiar
passage about the purpose of the church and church leaders and will be
referenced in several different lessons.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read through this passage and look for result statements.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God's plan for individual believers and his church is spiritual growth.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As you think about this week's lesson and look ahead to next week's lesson, "Meaningful Membership," plan to grow as an individual and as a church.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;">Additional Resources<br /></span><a href="https://www.challies.com/articles/whats-the-purpose-of-the-church/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">https://www.challies.com/articles/whats-the-purpose-of-the-church/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church's purpose is to glorify God, and the two
main ways we do this are through helping and equipping believers to grow in the
Gospel & sharing the Gospel with those who need to be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lesson Schedule</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9/10<span> <span> </span>Introduction<br />9/17<span> <span> </span>Meaningful Membership<br />9/24<span> <span> </span>Intentional Relationships<br />10/1<span> </span><span> </span><span>Ministries of the Church<br />10/08<span> </span><span>75th Celebration<br />10/15<span> </span><span> Prayer & the Church<br />10/22<span> </span><span> The Bible & the Church<br />10/29<span> Preaching & the Church<br />11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church<br />11/19<span> The Gathering of the Church</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church, click <a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church">HERE</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span face=""Leelawadee",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592965.post-59789733053533192142023-09-03T06:30:00.077-04:002023-11-19T11:16:08.772-05:00We Are the Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;">For every We Are the Church - Fall Class post, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;">including the most recent lesson's post,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;">click </span><a href="https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/We%20Are%20the%20Church" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -24px;">HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;">For Info about the Winter 2023/24 classes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start; text-indent: -24px;">click <a href=" https://trinitybaptistgr.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2029418" target="_blank">HERE</a><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQFqxClvRJwT_-eLZu6-N-hWHaI0R4nRbs4Cpo-sU51CEDTASSVigyaGeBdx70eVzJdsJ1yHwPkWNIXbRPCGGUkvhgJIDbMcMSvPyg-U_xMsvc-UFDbJ6tFVPvqBD407XSEGtWIKD7_6RZ7nfwiRCPm2vOxc6N42wDtric7YdiBQhjNmzsWSKVg/s1800/21014108_1648475185194491_4806990018282764180_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQFqxClvRJwT_-eLZu6-N-hWHaI0R4nRbs4Cpo-sU51CEDTASSVigyaGeBdx70eVzJdsJ1yHwPkWNIXbRPCGGUkvhgJIDbMcMSvPyg-U_xMsvc-UFDbJ6tFVPvqBD407XSEGtWIKD7_6RZ7nfwiRCPm2vOxc6N42wDtric7YdiBQhjNmzsWSKVg/w226-h226/21014108_1648475185194491_4806990018282764180_o.jpg" width="226" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On September 10, Trinity Baptist Church will begin its Fall Adult Christian Education (ACE) class. Instead of the three or four different classes, we will have three groups doing the same study, "We are the Church." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This continues to build on our one combined summer study, "Theology Matters." One specific lesson was "What is the Church?" Zac Harmon did a great job of teaching that lesson. Still, as we think about the details of the community that is our church family, it is essential to understand what the church, universal - around the world and local - here at Trinity Baptist Church is. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our study of "We are the Church," we will be digging even deeper into the Biblical idea of the church in general, what Trinity Baptist Church does explicitly, and why.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two ideas that will be emphasized throughout the study will be the following.<br />The church is a specific group of people - saved people.<br />The church's focus must be the glorification of God. Two ways we do this are through spiritual growth and sharing the Gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While the main reason for this study is the importance of the church in God's plan. A secondary reason is to get to know your church family as we are reminded of the church. In the groups, people will be sharing testimonies and praying together. The three groups are based on the deacon care groups, and each group will be taught a very similar class. The Red Group will be meeting downstairs in Room #3. The Green Group will be meeting in the Fireplace Room. The Blue and Yellow Groups will be meeting in the Chapel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Plan to join your Deacon Care group starting September 10.<br /></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Red Group will be meeting in Room 3 downstairs.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Green Group will be meeting in the Fireplace Room.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Blue and Yellow Groups will be meeting in the Chapel.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remember the purposes of this study.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grow in an understanding of what the church is - universal and local (Trinity Baptist Church)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grow in our love for and knowledge of people in our deacon care group</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remember who we are and what we do so we can focus on the main thing.</span></li></ul><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lesson Schedule</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9/10<span> <span> </span>Introduction<br />9/17<span> <span> </span>Meaningful Membership<br />9/24<span> <span> </span>Intentional Relationships<br />10/1<span> </span><span> </span><span>Ministries of the Church<br />10/08<span> </span><span>75th Celebration<br />10/15<span> </span><span> Prayer & the Church<br />10/22<span> </span><span> The Bible & the Church<br />10/29<span> Preaching & the Church<br />11/05<span> Leadership & the Church<br />11/12<span> Discipline & the Church<br />11/19<span> The Gathering of the Church</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><p></p>Drodgersjrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01544297378627251304noreply@blogger.com0